Flushing device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a flushing device comprising a bowl ( 4 ) having a flushing module ( 5 ) which is arranged in the area of the bowl ( 4 ) designed to receive excreta. The flushing module ( 5 ) at an upper end has a first receiving area ( 12 ) for receiving flushing water ( 38 ) and excreta ( 74 ) as well as means with which said receiving area ( 12 ) can be emptied into a chamber ( 80 ) situated underneath it.

The present invention is concerned with a flushing device for a watercloset incorporating a bowl. Very much and often expensive drinkingwater is used every day worldwide to flush water closets. For manyyears, extensive research has therefore been conducted in an attempt toreduce the amount of water consumed for the flushing of water closets. Asignificant contribution to this has been made with flush tanks thathave an interruptible flush or a selectively activated partial flush.With the partial flush significantly less water is used for flushingafter a small job than usual. Also known are flushing devices in whichwater is accelerated by means of a water nozzle during the flushingprocess in the siphon. A flushing device of this type is revealed, forinstance, in the applicant's WO 95/04196. However, even here the minimumwater consumption is at least three liters and the operative complexityis comparatively high. The pressure flushing device according to EP-A-0352 712 operates in a similar manner.

Flushing devices are furthermore known in which water is suctioned outof the siphon of the water closet during flushing by means of a vacuumpump and a suction line. In railway cars, toilets are known that have abasin with an opening and a shutter below the same that can be swiveledoff to the side. Since no effective odor closure is present here andnone is needed, these toilets are not suitable for in-home use. Lastly,water closets are known in which the excreta are burned, composted orpackaged. These water closets work without a flushing device and have sofar proven useful only for special applications, for example in vehiclesor on campgrounds. However, in the known flushing devices a shortcomingis presented not only by the high water consumption but also by thegenerated noise. The ideal flushing device would, therefore, operatewithout water and noiseless and would, furthermore, be germproof Theinvention now has as its object to create a flushing device of the aboveclass that comes closer to this ideal design than the flushing devicesthat are known so far.

The object of the invention is met with a flushing device according tothe preamble as per claim 1. In the inventive flushing device provisionis thus made for a flushing module to be disposed in the excrement catcharea of the bowl. In the inventive device, the flushing, in principle,thereby no longer takes place from the top, as until now, but from thebottom and with a module to be affixed to the underside of the bowl. Itis now an essential feature that this prevents the previouslyunavoidable high energy loss due to friction of the flushing water inthe flush tank, in the drain bend and in the bowl. The flushing watercan be used directly and with less energy loss in the flushing module.Also avoided is the generation of noise in the flush tank, in the drainpipe and in the bowl. Since the flushing takes place underneath thebowl, in the module, the generation of noise can be dampenedsignificantly more effectively than before.

It is also regarded as a significant aspect of the invention that theinstallation can be significantly simplified. This is based on the factthat the current multiple interfaces between the water closet and thebuilding can often be reduced only by using a plug-in interface. Theflushing module is mounted on the building floor by means of a mountingplate, for example, and the toilet bowl is subsequently fixed on thesame.

In a further development of the invention, the flushing module has, atan upper end, a first catch area to receive flushing water and excreta,and means are provided by which the catch area can be emptied into aspace disposed below the same. The excreta fall into this first catcharea and are subsequently emptied into a space disposed below the same,for example into a collection container. The emptying is particularlyeffective if this takes place by a swiveling or tilting away. Theswiveling away takes place, according to a further development of theinvention, by rotating the catch area. The emptying thus takes place ina manner similar to known ashtrays in which a catch plate is rotatedwhen a button is pressed, resulting in the ashes to be hurled awayradially. The excreta then leave the catch area together with theflushing water that is present in this catch area. The emptying isparticularly effective if a downward movement of the catch area occurssimultaneously with a rotation. A hydraulic drive is preferably providedfor both movements. This becomes particularly simple and cost-effectivefrom a design point of view if the catch area is connected to ahydraulic cylinder. By moving the piston of the cylinder, the catch areais then moved downward. Suitable guide means simultaneously exert arotating movement onto the catch area during this downward movement.

In a further development, provision is made for the flushing module toform, together with a portion of the bowl disposed at a distance to theformer, an odor trap in such a way that a space between the flushingmodule and this portion is filled with water. In this manner, an odortrap is formed that is very easy to build and cost-effective, as well asreliable. When the catch area is refilled with flushing water after aflush, this odor trap takes effect immediately and prevents odors frompassing from the interior of the module into the bowl. It is now anessential feature that an odor trap of this type requires comparativelylittle water.

A particularly effective cleaning results when, according to a furtherdevelopment of the invention, nozzle openings are disposed approximatelycentrically in the catch area, through which flushing water can besprayed radially outward. The emptying of the catch area is thussupported by the flushing water exiting through the nozzle openings.This exiting of this flushing water may be actuated by a downwardmovement of the catch area.

If, according to a further development of the invention, refining meansare disposed underneath the catch area in said compartment, wherebyfeces may, for example, be reduced mechanically, the excreta can becollected in a second catch area in the form of a thick liquid. Thisarea with the refining means can preferably be cleaned withhigh-pressure or steam nozzles and is can be¹ hermetically sealed on thebottom toward the sewer line.

1 Translator's note: the German-language sentence on which thistranslation is based contains either a grammatical error or superfluouswords.

For installation purposes, the flushing module is preferably fixed as anentire unit on a standard interface plate with a quick lock. Located onthis plate are the drain, a compressed water connection, as well aspreferably also a power supply connection. The WC bowl can now beplugged onto the interface without additional installation costs and isimmediately operable.

The invention is also concerned with a method for flushing a watercloset. In this method the excreta are collected in a catch area that isdisposed in a lower region of a toilet bowl and at least partly filledwith water, and subsequently emptied from this area into a further arealocated underneath. As in the device, the underlying concept that theexcreta are collected in a catch area and subsequently flushed there isan essential feature in the inventive method as well.

Further advantageous characteristics will become apparent from thedependent claims, from the following description and from the drawings.

Embodiments of the invention will subsequently be explained in moredetail based on the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a partially sectioned view of an inventiveflushing device,

FIG. 2 shows a vertical section through an inventive flushing device,

FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically show a partial section through an inventiveflushing device,

FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically show a partial section through the inventiveflushing device to illustrate the emptying process,

FIG. 7 schematically shows a view of a standard interface,

FIG. 8 shows a section through the standard interface according to FIG.7,

FIG. 9 shows a partial section through the inventive flushing device,and

FIGS. 10 and 11 schematically show a partial section through a variationof the inventive flushing device.

FIG. 1 shows a WC system 1 that stands on a building floor 52 and issupported at a building wall 13. It substantially comprises a basin 2,which is made of ceramics, plastic or metal, and a bowl 4 having anupper opening 67, as well as a flushing module 5 and a connecting plate45. The connecting plate 45 connects the flushing module 5 to a drainline 7 that may be installed in the floor 52. The flushing module 5 isconnected via a water line 6 ² a coupling 49 (FIG. 6) of the connectingplate 45 to a supply line 48 of the house plumbing. A seat ring 3 isdisposed on the basin 2 above the opening 67.

2 Translator's note: it is not clear from the German-language document,whether only a comma or a word/words were omitted here.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bowl 4 has at its lower end an opening 10, whichmay be circular, for example. Above this opening 10, a plurality ofopenings 9 are disposed in a circle, which are connected to a circularpipe 15. This circular pipe 15 is connected by means of a valve notshown here to the supply line 48. When the valve is open water flowsthrough the openings 9 onto the inside of the bowl 4 and cleans thesame.

Located below the opening 10 is a comparatively flat dish 12 that formsa catch area. The dish 12 may also be made of ceramics. However, othermaterials are possible here as well, for example plastic or metal, whichare preferably coated on their upper side 11 to reduce adherence. Asuitable material for the reduction of adherence is tetrafluroethylene,for example. Fixed to the underside of the dish 12 is a vertical pipe18, which is connected to a piston 23 of a water cylinder 16. With thiswater cylinder 16 the dish 12 can be moved downward.

The water cylinder 16 is located in a cylindrical collection container14, which is firmly connected at its upper edge 68 to the outside of thebowl 4. A bayonet-type coupling is suitable for this connection, forexample. The connection is designed gasproof and has, for example, agasket, which is not shown here.

Disposed in the lower region of the collection container 14 is arefining device 26. It substantially comprises a propeller 84 that isfixed on the pipe 18. If the pipe 18 is moved downward, as explainedabove, the propeller 84 is rotated simultaneously, for example with therotation device 71 shown in FIG. 9. Furthermore disposed below thepropeller 84 on the pipe 18 is a sealing plate 17 which, when the dish12 is not lowered, sits against an inwardly directed edge 27 of thecollection container 14 as shown in FIG. 3.

The collection container 14 is connected at its lower edge 78 to an edge46 (FIG. 7) of the connecting plate 45 in a gasproof manner. Theconnection is a bayonet-type coupling, for example, that has laterallyprojecting shoulders 43 on the collection container 14 as shown in FIG.3, which engage into corresponding cutouts 44 (FIG. 7) of the connectingplate 45. The module 5 is thus releasably connected in a gasproof mannerat its upper end to the bowl 4 and at its lower end to the connectingplate 45.

As shown in FIG. 5, the dish 12 is filled with water 38. The dish 12 isdesigned such that its upper edge 72 is located above the edge 73 of theopening 10. The dish 12 is then positioned such that a space 37, whichis filled at least partly with water, exists between the underside ofthe bowl 4 and the inside of the dish 12. Together with the water, thisspace 37 forms an odor trap, which seals the bowl 4 and the dish 12against one another in a gasproof manner.

Gas located in the interior of the collection container 14 can thus notget into the interior of the bowl 4.

The dish 12 has centrically and on its upper side at least one spraynozzle 19 that is connected to an interior space 58 of the pipe 18 asshown in FIG. 9. As will be explained in more detail further below,water can be introduced through this spray nozzle 19 into the interiorof the dish 12 to clean the same.

The method of operation of the inventive flushing device will beexplained in greater detail below based on the FIGS. 3 and 4. As alreadymentioned above, the dish 12 forms a catch area. After using the WCsystem 1, the excreta 74 are located in the dish 12 and thus in thewater 38. To activate a flush, the lever 76 is operated, which is shownhere schematically, and a water valve 75 is thereby opened. The valve 75is located in the line 6. When the valve 75 is open, water flows underpressure into an upper pressure compartment 21 of the water cylinder 16.An inlet nozzle 77 is oriented such that it is directed onto a turbine25 that is fixed on the pipe 18. The pressure compartment 21 is therebyfilled with water and the piston 23 is moved downward with the pipe 18against the power of recoil of the spring 22 in the direction of thearrow 30. The dish 12 accordingly moves downward into the position shownin FIG. 4. With an opening 24 in the pipe 18, water simultaneously flowsinto the pipe 18 and through the spray nozzle 19 into the dish 12. Alsosimultaneously, the pipe 18 is rotated with the dish 12 due to theeffect of the water onto the turbine 25. The dish 12 thus moves underrotation from the position shown in FIG. 3 into the position shown inFIG. 4. Once the position of the piston 23 shown in FIG. 4 is reached, asensor, which is not shown here, closes the valve 75. The spring undertension 22 now moves the piston 23 with the pipe 18 as well as the dish12 back up into the position shown in FIG. 3. The water in the pressurecompartment 21 is displaced through the opening 24 and the nozzle 19into the dish 12, causing the same to be filled again. At the same timeflushing water flows via the circular pipe 15 and the openings 9 intothe bowl 4, cleaning it on the inside.

As a result of the rotation of the dish 12, the downward movement, andthe water discharged through the spray opening 19, the dish 12 isemptied, as illustrated by FIG. 6. The dish 12 is moved slightlydownward here and rotated in the direction of the arrow 40 around theaxis of the pipe 18. This rotation generates a centrifugal force ontothe water 38 and the excreta 74 and transports same in the direction ofthe arrows 42 over the edge of the dish 12 into the collection container14. This movement is supported by the water spraying from the nozzle 19.The water is thus forcefully dumped out of the dish 12 and the excreta74 fall downward inside the collection container 14 into a refiningcompartment 28 (FIG. 3). In FIG. 4 this falling process is indicated bythe arrows 33 and 34. Once the excreta 74 have arrived in the refiningcompartment 28, they are chopped up by the propeller 84, which rotatesalong with the pipe 18. The odor plate 17 is now lifted with its sealingedge 17a off the sealing flange 27 so that the water and the chopped upexcreta 74 move down further into the holding compartment 80 shown inFIG. 8, in the direction of the arrow 35. The water and the refinedexcreta form a thick liquid.

In the holding compartment 80, water and the excreta may be collectedfrom a plurality, for example three to five, flushes. One flushrequires, for example, approximately one liter of water. If the holdingcompartment 80 is filled, for example, with three to five liters ofthick liquid, a slide 53, which releases a round opening 55, isactivated, for example by means of a sensor not shown here that switcheson a drive 54. The thick liquid then enters through the opening 55 intothe drain pipe 7. After the emptying process, the slide 53 re-closes theopening 55 and forms an odor trap.

The refining device 26 and the holding compartment 80 can be cleanedwith high-pressure or steam nozzles not shown here.

The pipe 18 is rotated, as explained, by the turbine 25. Alsoconceivable, however, as an alternative to the turbine 25, is a rotationdevice 71 according to FIG. 9. In this rotation device 71, the pipe 18has, on its outside, helical ribs 59 that engage into correspondingcutouts 60 of a flange 57 of the cylinder housing 20. When the pipe 18is moved downward, the pipe 18 inevitably rotates the flange 57. Whenthe pipe 18 is pushed back up by the spring 22, the dish 12 accordinglyrotates in the opposite direction. This rotating movement, together withthe water flowing out of the nozzle 19, also has a cleaning effect bywhich the inside 11 of the dish 12 is cleaned. The cleaning is supportedby a non-stick or low-adhesion inside 11 of the dish 12. Low-adhesionmaterials are ceramics, for example, in a known manner. However, theadhesion may also be reduced by suitable plastics.

In the above discussed embodiment, the dish 12 is moved downward duringthe flushing process and rotated at the same time. In the embodimentshown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the dish 12 is moved downward and tilted. Thisis achieved by means of a guide rod 62 fixed at the underside of thedish 12 and connected via a hinge 61 to the piston 23 of the watercylinder 16. At the lower end of the angled rod 62, a guide roller 81 isdisposed, which is movably disposed in a fixed guide groove 63. If therod 62 is moved downward in the direction of the arrow 64, the guideroller 81 moves in the direction of the arrow 65 and tilts the rod 62with the dish 12 in a clockwise direction around the hinge 61 into thetilted position shown in FIG. 11. The water 38 and the excreta 74 arethereby dumped out of the dish 12 and move, just as explained above,downward inside the collection container 14 and to the refining device26. Water can simultaneously be introduced into the dish 12 via thespray nozzle 19, thereby cleaning the bowl. After the flushing processthe spring 22 moves the piston 23 upward. The rod 62 is then moved backinto the position shown in FIG. 10. At the same time the dish 12 isrefilled with water via the spray nozzle 19. When the dish 12 is filledwith water, the odor trap is formed between the dish 12 and the bowl 4,as explained above. The toilet system 1 is then immediately ready to beused again.

As explained, the connecting plate 45 forms a single interface betweenthe WC system 1 and the building. After the connecting plate 45 has beeninstalled the module 5 is plugged onto the edge 46 and connected withthe above bayonet-type connection. At the same time a water supplyconnection is established with the coupling 49. At the same time anelectrical line 50 can be connected to the module 5 via a plug 51. Thiselectrical line 50 may be used to supply, for example, sensors andvalves. Also conceivable is a supply to additional appliances. Themounting of the connecting plate 45 takes place, for example, by meansof a plate 47, which is provided with four holes 47'. From these holes47' the connecting plate 45 is fixed on the floor 52 by means of boltsnot shown here. The connection of the connecting plate 45 to the drainline 7 takes place, for example, via a flange 82 that is mounted on theunderside of the plate 47.

In the inventive flushing device the flushing thus does not take placein the usual manner by flooding, instead cleaning nozzles are used in atargeted manner to thus take advantage of the water pressure. The watertrap to the sewer line is attained with a comparatively thin layer 38 ofwater. Comparatively large quantities of water therefore do not need tobe moved during flushing. After the refinement there are essentially nosolids left. This prevents that comparatively large quantities of waterare needed, as in the past, to generate a bow wave for thetransportation of solids. The flushing device can substantially bereduced to a flushing module, permitting a quick and simpleinstallation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flushing device for a water closet (1)incorporating a bowl (4), comprising a flushing module (5) thatincorporates, underneath the bowl (4), an excrement catch area (12) thatis rotatable during flushing to be emptied, wherein the excrement catcharea (12) is downwardly movable and simultaneously rotatable to beemptied into a compartment (80) disposed therebelow, and wherein ahydraulic cylinder (16) is provided by which the catch area (12) isdownwardly movable to be emptied.
 2. A flushing device according toclaim 1, wherein at least one of the catch area (12) and the bowl (4)incorporates means (19, 9) by which water is introducible into the catcharea under pressure for emptying and cleaning.
 3. A flushing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the catch area (12) is emptyable into acompartment (80) disposed below same.
 4. A flushing device according toclaim 1, wherein the flushing device module (5) forms, together with aportion (73) of the bowl (4) disposed at a distance to the flushingmodule (5), an odor trap in such a way that a space (37) between theflushing module (5) and said portion (73) is filled with water.
 5. Aflushing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the catcharea (12) and the bowl (4) incorporates means (19,9) by which water isintroduceable into the catch area under pressure for emptying andcleaning.
 6. A flushing device for a water closet (1) incorporating abowl (4), comprising a flushing module (5) having, at an upper endthereof, a first catch area (12) to receive flushing water (38) andexcreta (74), means by which the catch area (12) can be emptied into acompartment (80) disposed below the catch area, wherein at least one ofsaid catch area (12) and said bowl (4) incorporates means (19, 9) bywhich water is introducible into the catch area under pressure foremptying and cleaning, and nozzle openings (19) disposed approximatelycentrally in the catch area (12) through which flushing water issprayable in radially outward direction.
 7. A flushing device for awater closet (1) having a bowl (4), comprising a module (5) connected toa bottom opening (10) of said bowl (4), a catch area (12) disposed at anupper end of said module (5) to receive excreta, said module (5)incorporating connecting means (43) fixable on a connecting plate (45)during installation, said module (5) being connected through a formedlocking connector to said connecting plate (45).
 8. A flushing deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein said the module (5) is to be connected toa water line (48) and wherein the catch area (12) is flushable with thewater from the water line (48).
 9. A flushing device according to claim8, wherein the catch area (12) is rotatable or tiltable with the waterfrom the water line (48).
 10. A flushing device for a water closet (1)having a bowl (4), comprising a module (5) connected to a bottom opening(10) of said bowl (4), a catch area (12) disposed at an upper end ofsaid module (5) to receive excreta, said module being adapted to beconnected to a water line (48) wherein said catch area (12) is flushablewith water from the water line, said catch area (12) being rotatablewith water from the water line.
 11. The flushing device according toclaim 10 wherein said catch area (12) is simultaneously rotatable andmovable in a downward direction with the water from the water line. 12.The flushing device of claim 10 further comprising a substantiallycylindrical casing (14), wherein said catch area (12) is disposed in anupper opening of said casing (14).
 13. A flushing device for a watercloset (1) incorporating a bowl (4), comprising a flushing module (5)that incorporates, underneath the bowl (4), an excrement catch area (12)that is rotatable during flushing to be emptied, wherein the excrementcatch area (12) is downwardly movable and simultaneously rotatable to beemptied; wherein a hydraulic cylinder (16) is provided by which thecatch area (12) is downwardly movable to be emptied; wherein the piston(23) of the hydraulic cylinder (16) is connected with a rod or a pipe(18,62) to the catch area(12); and wherein nozzle openings (19) aredisposed approximately centrically in the catch area (12) through whichflushing water is sprayable in a radially outward direction.
 14. Aflushing device for a water closet (1) incorporating a bowl (4),comprising a flushing module (5) that incorporates, underneath the bowl(4), an excrement catch area (12) that is rotatable during flushing tobe emptied, wherein the refining device (26) incorporates a rotatablemechanical part (84) similar to a propeller.
 15. A flushing device for awater closet incorporating a bowl comprising a flushing module disposedin an excrement catch area of the bowl, and a refining device disposedbelow said catch area, by which flushing water as well as excreta arerefinable, to form a thick liquid, wherein the refining deviceincorporates a rotatable mechanical part similar to a propeller, whereinthe refining device is connected to a catch area and rotates therewith.